| In this study, conducted by the main editor of a well-known public e-mail list for educators, insight is provided into how successful learners are using e-mail lists as a medium for professional development. Archives of messages available to the public via the Internet and the World Wide Web are analyzed to show usage patterns and incidence of various categories of postings. A descriptive analysis of types of content in messages published on the EDTECH list between February 1989 and January 1997 is combined with an aggregate quantitative analysis of numbers and changes in frequency patterns of messages posted at various points in this period of time. In the study discussion is included on numbers of postings, spread of postings over subscribers posting, differences between original postings and replies, and numbers of inquiries vs. informational postings, etc. The analysis concentrates on providing a rich and detailed analysis of EDTECH as a professional learning environment. The main goal of this study is to describe in detail the activity of a list and its educational benefits from analyzing its publicly available archives.;The study concludes that frequency of posting may be predictive of continuity and duration of participation. Somewhat stable frequency patterns can be observed irrespective of which subscribers are participating at any given time. Content, though reflecting the events of the time, tends to follow patterns as to its intent and overall purpose. |
